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Potential Environmental Benefits of Ionophores in Ruminant Diets
Author(s) -
Tedeschi Luis Orlindo,
Fox Danny Gene,
Tylutki Thomas Paul
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2003.1591
Subject(s) - monensin , manure , environmental science , rumen , water quality , ammonia volatilization from urea , zoology , fermentation , chemistry , agronomy , food science , biology , fertilizer , ecology
A concern of the USEPA is the volatilization of NH 3 from animal manure and CH 4 produced from ruminal fermentation. Excess N in the environment has been associated with adverse effects on human health, and CH 4 and N 2 O emissions are sources of greenhouse gases. The objectives of this paper are to summarize and quantify the benefits of ionophores, principally monensin, in decreasing NH 3 and CH 4 emissions to the environment and reducing resource utilization in cattle ( Bos spp.) production. The data indicate that monensin in the diets of ruminants may decrease protein degradation in the rumen and may increase feed protein utilization by an average of 3.5 percentage units. These changes would have an effect in reducing N losses and decreasing fecal N and the amount of protein that must be fed to meet animal requirements. Additionally, CH 4 is produced by enteric fermentation in ruminants, which is responsible for about 33 to 39% of CH 4 emissions from agriculture. Ionophores can reduce CH 4 production by 25% and decrease feed intake by 4% without affecting animal performance. The inclusion of monensin in beef and dairy cattle diets may benefit air quality by reducing CH 4 and N emissions and water quality by reducing N in manure, which can potentially leave the farm through leaching into ground water and through runoff into surface water.